Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-03-19

understand why the prince has become so
deeply infatuated
aAnd ]. too" sadly assented the worthy
physician.
ssWelI, let us proceed" continued the shah,
asince your wife is indispensable to my sons
happiness, nay, to his very life, of course
you'll give her up'"
"Your highness,n exclaimed the physician,
who seemed to be on the point OF losing LIS
senses FROM conflicting emotions, lit is impos-
sblcl love my wife"
Then the sacrifice will be ALI the more
ereditable to you"
81 could never bring myself to it."
@Still, it is your duty"
That's the question"
"The question. could settle it soon enough
in nv favor by arbitrary measures, but
prefer to come to an amicable understanding.
Shall we Law the matter before the grand
vizirin
Il have 10 objections"
sAnd you promise to abide by his decislons
II proriise," replied the poor doctor ntones
almost inaudible through physical and mental
prostration, the result of the shah's terrifying
proposition.
The shah summoned the grand vizir.
In few moments he entered the apart
ment with the majestic bearing OF prime
minister. After having Frustrated himself
before his sovereign he gave the physician an
ambiguous look that boded no good to the
latter, and waited.
In few words the shah explained the
situation. The grand vizir, tickled to death
over his enemy's quandary, at once expressed
his opinion:
"You don't mean to say, your highess, that
the doctor hesitatesl'
ale hesitates," repeated the shah.
"And can it be possiblea" thundered the
grand vizier, apparently carried away by
the violence of an indignation he could not
restrain. "when the happiness of our prince is
at stake, when his very life is in dangera
Under such circumstances. sacrifice becomes
duty that should be welcomed with joy,
that should be entered upon with delight
Oh, fiei doctor. To resist is TO commit a
crime. Our watchword should be, no sacrl-
flee too great for our sovereign; no sacrifice
too great for the heir to the throne; no.
"You see" said the shah to the physician,
interrupting this flow of eloquenoe, there is
no other course left open to you"
The physician, utterly detected, tried to
stammer out further objections.
"No. nor cried his Persian majesty with
| great vehemence, "you have promised to
abide by my grand vizir's decision. My son
will therefore marry your wife, whom you
will proceed to get divorced without delay
The physician. glancing timidly at the
grand vizir, gave him sly look, and said:
lis this indeed, your opinion, and would
you do so were you in my place2"
without an instant's delay" shouted the
grand vizir with an enthusiasm that went
| straight to the shah's heart
These words seemed to make a different
| man of the physician His little eyes shone
| with extraordinary brilliancy and his thin
| lips curled with a triumphant smile Turn
| ing suddenly towards bis sovereign and
| throwing himself on his knees he said;
pardon me, great shah; have deceived
YOU
The shah started, and the grand vizir
| frowned
Deceived me-" cried the shah
| ayes, your highness; il is true that ms
wife is handsome enough to turn princes
| head, but she did not, in this instance, have
| that honor
"Who did, then"
"Who did, then, your highness" replied
| the physician. directing a cunning look at his
| friend, the grand vizir, who was growing
visibly pale. 81 will tell you 1t was a
| young girl OF surprising loveliness, a maiden
| on whom nature has poured her choicest
| gifts, and who has succeeded in capturing
the heart Of the most powerful person in the
| kingdom, after your highness"
The shah looked at the grand vizir The
latter was no longer pale; he was green.
ain short" continued the worthy physician
in distinct tones, and turning toward the
| prime minister, "it is this gentleman's wife >
Who was surpAsedi The shah. Who was
| Gumbfounded' The grand vizir And who
| was jubilant? The physician.
'iIf this is true" said his majesty to his
minister, then it is you who must be
| divorced"
"Neverl' cried the latter vehemently.
WHAT exclaimed the doctor, "you hest
| tategn
"Yes | hesitate
| "And can it be possible Numbered the
| physician, suddenly assuming the tone and
| gestures of the grand vizir. "when the happi
Hess Oh your prince Is al STAKE, Wue1l HIS very
| life is in dangera Under such circumstances
sacrifices becomes duty that should be vel
| coined with joy, that should be entered upon
with delight. Oh, file, sir To resist is tc
| commit a crime Our watchword should be-
no sacrifice too great for our sovereign; nc
sacrifice too great for the heir to the throne y
The grand vizir was a sight to behold at
| that moment. Never did countenance ex.
| press defeat and abasenent more pitiful and
more complete. At this point his Persian
majesty could not keep from bursting out
| laughing.
| As to the doctor he rubbed his hands as
/ though he was going to rub off the epidermis
He then fired this parting shot:
| 'Iou asserted just now that what l did
not wish to do you would do in an instant
were you in my place. 1t was the grandeur
| of abnegation, because a public man in
| Persia cannot eat his own words in so sudden
and unceremoniouS u fashion"
The grand yizir hauled down his colors.
Annihiating the physician with a light
ming like glance he turned toward the shah
and said slowly:
| Master, it shall be as you wish
| And, in point of fact, the young prince
married the pretty Persian girl and recov-
cred his health-J. Henry Hager in Cos
mopolitan.
| Most of tho beef consumed Ivy California